Jens Spahn has announced his resignation as chairman of the Union parliamentary group after revealing plans to have a child via surrogate in the USA. The CDU/CSU group will elect a successor on 29 July. Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the decision inevitable.
On Saturday Jens Spahn (CDU) announced his resignation. The decision to have a child via surrogate in the USA triggered the crisis. It overshadows the federal government’s reform plans ahead of the summer recess.
On Monday interim group leader Alexander Hoffmann (CSU) and Steffen Bilger (CDU) informed the 208 MPs. An in-person session to elect the new chairman will take place on Wednesday, 29 July at 2 p.m. in Berlin.
Friedrich Merz hinted at a possible cabinet reshuffle in a ZDF summer interview. Markus Söder and Merz are now seeking a successor who balances federal and state interests. With Spahn gone, a potential rival for future chancellor candidacies has exited.
